Need info on moving to NYC (New York, York: environment, estate, apartment)

[Viralmd]

Originally Posted by Odette

Soory about the uppercase. I am currently looking at income of $6000pm. I would like to know how are the public schools or should on consider private schools? I do not mind traveling plus minus 20m to work as I currently travel more than 3x that to work alone. Currently I am negotiating a position in New York itself. We are not one that will visits all the night life only on occassions. I think right now we would have to consider my daughter first as she is 17 and this will be a very huge step for her alone.

Schools vary from area to area. YOu have to do research. The decent private schools in NYC require application a year in advance, ERB tests, interviews and cost, for high school, in the range of $30.000/year (not including uniforms, books, etc). The really excellent public high schools, such as Stuyvesant or Bronx Science, also require an entrance exam which is already done for the year. You'd likely have a very difficult time getting her into a private school for next autumn, so I would suggest that you look to Westchester, where there are many excellent high schools.

A 20 minute commute is very unusual in NYC. 45 minutes to an hour or more is more common. Some people have very long commutes. There are communities in Westchester that have good schools and are about a 45 minute train ride from Grand Central.

You really should come here to check things out, as this is something that can't be done long distance.

[Viralmd]

Originally Posted by metalhadi

Hi everyone! We need urgent help because we should make a final decision by 15 April!

My fiance and I are both accepted to Columbia University and U of Michigan and we are considering to join Columbia (although from the ranking point of view, Columbia is 27 and UM is 5). However, we have realized that cost of living is really high in NYC (specifically the apartment rentals). We have estimated to get the stipend of 5000$ per month from Columbia University, but we are not really sure that this amount of money is sufficient to have a nice life in NYC.

Could please give us an estimation of how we should spend our budget on each of the following items:

1. One bedroom apartment: We have considered to live in Moriningside Heights, Astoria, Greenpoint or Williamsburg (if you have any other good neighborhood in mind please let us know). There is another option of on-campus housing which we do not have much info about (the site needs user pass) and we really appreciate any info (such as rental, facilities, environment) on on-campus housing.

2. Cost living: which might include food, clothing, commuting, cell-phone and some other expenses of the apartment like gas, water and laundry. How much will do the mentioned items cost per person?

3. Entertainment: this is a very important criteria for our decision; after considering the amount of money spent on the above items, how much money is left for us for entertainment? is this amount acceptable to fairly use the available entertainments? In fact, we are choosing Columbia over U-M just because we see lots and lots of entertainments in NYC, however if we won't be able use them, what difference does it make between Ann Arbor and NYC?!!

Thank you so much in advance.

First, you're going to have taxes taken out of your stipends. So that leaves a fair amount less than $5000/month. Things ARE cheaper in Ann ARbor, but, then, it's Ann Arbor. What do you mean by entertainment? If you're talking about the theater, Broadway theater can be extremely expensive. But then, movie tickets aren't cheap either.

You need to check with both Columbia and U. of Michigan about on-campus housing and other possibilities. They have staff that can help you. No matter where you go, as graduate students you won't have what many would consider a 'nice' life, but your education is a means to achieve that end. Nobody lives like royalty in graduate school (I lived in a basement for five years getting my Ph.D., prior to medical school, when I lived in a slum). Lower your expectations. You're going to school to learn, not to party.

[metalhadi]

Thanks Viralmd for the response.

We totally understand that we are not going to party! But we must also have some free time once in a while. What makes the things different here is that how we can use our free time in NYC. It seems that everything is expensive there implying that even we find free time, we cannot enjoy it because we do not have any money left!

On the other hand, certain sorts of entertainment (for example, going out for drink or going to restaurants) are widely available in Ann Arbor (with comparable quality to NYC and chipper price). So if, in a case that some money is left, we only are able to use these sorts of entertainment, there is no big difference between NYC and Ann Arbor, except that in Ann Arbor, we can save pretty good amount of money each month.

Please tell me if I am making any mistake about the above comment.

[direct2Bklyn]

I'm moving to Brooklyn for a new teaching job. Hope to secure a 3bdrm apt. w/i 15-20 minutes of Park Slope neighborhood. Anybody out there have any helpful leads? Been watching craigslist closely...will be back in Bklyn for weekend of 4/25, hopefully to secure something. Also, for budgeting purposes how much shld I expect to pay for heat/gas/electric?

Thanks!

[belle0915]

We're considering relocating to NYC from the Tampa, FL area. I have a list of questions and would really appreciate any information/insight you could offer. Please don't hesitate to ask if you want more specific info on our situation.

1. What are your favorite/least favorite things about living in NYC?
2. As a transplant, what do you wish you had known (good or bad) before you moved there? If you could do it all over again, would you still want to make the move?
3. What would it cost to get a decent 1 bedroom apartment in Manhattan in a safe area? Any favorite neighborhoods? Any areas to avoid like the plague?
4. Is $2500 reasonable or is it wishful thinking?
5. What is a “white glove” building? I see this a lot on apartment listings and have no idea what it means.
6. If we moved and didn’t get a raise, we’d be living on around $120k. Our bills would only be for rent, utilities, food, entertainment, etc. No debt and we’d sell our cars. Would this be do-able or would we be living on Ramen and tap water?
7. How long did it take you to find an apartment in NYC?
8. Any suggestions on questions we should ask or things we should think about when considering a move?
9. Where do you live and how long is your commute? How do you get to work (walk, subway, etc)?
10. Any recommendations for no-fee brokers or management companies that you’ve worked with? Do decent no-fee places exist or is the 10-15% fee worth it?
11. Is it difficult to find a job there if you don’t already live there? Did you move before finding a job? How long did it take to find something? What resources did you use to find a job?

[metropolistraffic]

5. What is a “white glove” building? I see this a lot on apartment listings and have no idea what it means.

White Glove Buildings are buildings with Doormen.

4. Is $2500 reasonable or is it wishful thinking?

It's possible. Personally, with your income, I'd feel a bit safer going for $3000 a month (you qualify for it. (salary / 40 = max rent)). But, it's definitely possible.

6. If we moved and didn’t get a raise, we’d be living on around $120k. Our bills would only be for rent, utilities, food, entertainment, etc. No debt and we’d sell our cars. Would this be do-able or would we be living on Ramen and tap water?

Well, to start off. Any city water is awesome. So, don't knock the water!
But, 120,000 is great. You're not going to be living in a lap of luxury, but, you'll have a decent income. I went to Soho/Chinatown the other day. It was two people. $8 for starbucks, $5 for pastries and $54 for chinese food (full lobster), $4 subway tickets, and $10 for a taxi ($5 for the tip). It was an amazing day and it was under $100. Granted, it depends on what you call "fun", but walking around, going in stores, grabbing some food and dessert, that's an ideal day to me.

9. Where do you live and how long is your commute? How do you get to work (walk, subway, etc)?

I live in the suburbs of manhattan, NY side. I don't work there, I'm only a teen. But, When I do go.. It's not a long ride, at all.

-x-

I know I nitpicked here and there.. I don't live in Manhattan (yet), hence I don't know much about the actual lifestyle of living there, utilities cost, or other information that I left out. but, hey. I figured my post could be something to keep in mind. You know? The more information, the better!

[Viralmd]

A white glove building is NOT just a doorman building.

A white glove building is a VERY high end building, in beautiful condition, whether it's pre-war or post-war, with an air of quiet elegance. There are MANY doorman buildings. Only SOME of these are white glove.

If you don't live in Manhattan then it's probably hard for you to conceive of the difference, but there IS a difference.

$2500 MIGHT get you a studio rental in Manhattan, but not a one bedroom that you'd want to live in. $120,000 is enough for a nice life in NYC. Most people manage on a LOT less.

And who tips $5 for a $10 taxi ride? Do you ALWAYS tip 33%???? WOW!

Metropolistraffic, you sound as if you still live with your family....because your sense of living here (in Manhattan) is way off base and you're reiterating things you've read on this website.

[metropolistraffic]

And who tips $5 for a $10 taxi ride? Do you ALWAYS tip 33%???? WOW!

$5 is 50% of 10.. xD But, yeah. If I enjoy the ride, I tip nicely.
He was very outgoing and held a conversation the whole ride. In addition, I told him Chinatown but got out about 80% along the trip. So, I felt the need to give a bit more gracious tip.

[Viralmd]

Originally Posted by metropolistraffic

$5 is 50% of 10.. xD But, yeah. If I enjoy the ride, I tip nicely.
He was very outgoing and held a conversation the whole ride. In addition, I told him Chinatown but got out about 80% along the trip. So, I felt the need to give a bit more gracious tip.

It's 33% of the TOTAL amount this guy has...tipping 50%, as you calculate it, is even more outrageous.

[metropolistraffic]

Originally Posted by Viralmd

It's 33% of the TOTAL amount this guy has...tipping 50%, as you calculate it, is even more outrageous.

What makes you say that?